650B Santa Cruz

Well, I do not believe there is any 650b specific bike on the drawing table at Santa Cruz at the moment.
I am just interested in Santa Cruz enthusiasts and riders opinion.
Would you like to see a 650B option in SC line?
If not, then why?
If yes, then in which category? XC, AM, DH…

I know the 650B industry is slowly picking up with the upcoming availability of the parts. (Forks, wheels, tires…)
I can also see that another wheel option will probably mean higher cost of production, since the market would split even more among the different wheel sizes.
I am aware that SC was kind of late to the 29er party, so if the 650B goes mainstream in the next 1-3years, we might not see SC 650B bike very soon.

Yes, I am aware of the TRC compatibility, but it still is a 26er which might limit the use of wider tires and it was design with 26er geometry in mind.
I own a Tallboy C and like it.
i have also test riden the new Tallboy TLc and really liked it a lot.
I do prefer 29er wheels to 26er in most situations, but I am also 5'9 and could feel the limits of the 29er setup - specifically the Tallboy LT.
I like to have the front at leaset at the same level with my seat (if not lower...) and there is a limit with 29er high front. This shouldnt be a problem for a taller rider.
Another thing - stand over hight. These are all design issues which could be overcome only to certain point.
That's why I am interested in 650Bs.

A Blur 650b is the next logical step for Santa Cruz. I would definitively consider buying one with XC setup. I am not too kin on a 29er. I have no clue what kind of a bike they have in mind for 2013. I read their official statement that they are not planning any 650 for 2013 BIG MISTAKE!!

I read their official statement that they are not planning any 650 for 2013 BIG MISTAKE!!

Huge FAIL for SC!

It makes me so sad when I have to get off my 26er Nomad and walk sections of trail that my bike can't handle while guys on 650B rigs blast past me laughing at my shame...

I actually own a 650B bike and it's a wheel size worthy of consideration, but I don't think rushing in to jump on the bandwagon is a smart move. Let other companies build so-so 650B bikes. Learn from their mistakes and build a great SC 650B bike when the time is right. Then dominate for years...

SANTA CRUZ (Mike Ferrentino, whose comments were presumably vetted by suspension engineer Joe Graney, who is on the record as not looking forward to 650B): First, i do not entirely agree with (the premise that the industry is driving this). I think consumers are a big part of this interest bubble right now. According to francis at MTBR, “650b” is the second most popular search term on their site at the moment, and the 650b forum traffic is showing huge growth. It is valid to argue that the industry is at fault for even beginning to entertain the idea of 650b wheels, but consumers are clamoring right now for what they perceive to be the next better mousetrap. Another thing to consider – IF this takes off, does anyone realize how much crow the industry is going to have to eat listening to grant petersen saying “I told you so?”

Currently I ride a TRc and a Chameleon with 140mm forks on both.
Being a mere 5'6", I run a small TRc and medium Chameleon.
29ers just do not work for me, I cannot get my position right to make it fun to ride.

I have no great desire to convert my TRc to 650b, but I can see how some do like it.

My preference would be for a cardon hardtail 650b with a nice slack HA to replace my Chamelon with.
I know this is highly unlikely as 29ers seem to rule the roost in the hardtail world but that would be my preference.

Intense is another manufacturer working on 650b...
Well, looks like the first VPP 650b specific bike won't be a SC.

Posted by Sharples, who works at Intense:

"At Intense here in California, we built a Tracer 27.5, 137-150mm travel, we refined it, and built a couple more, I love the bike.
We have also tested a few carbon versions.
The wheel size is fantastic. Increasing the wheel size from 26 has benefits and 'challenges'. The benefits are linear, the 'challenges' are exponential.
Therefore, a 650 has benefits similar to a 29er but not as significant, with that said, the 'challenges' with a 650b are almost non-existent.
You will be able to buy our 650b [27.5] bikes very soon. If I was told today, that I could only have one bike in the garage, it would be a 650b.
But I wouldnt 'Jimmy Rig', a 26 inch bike. if you need to run a smaller tire to make it fit into your frame, you are defeating the purpose. The outside diameter is the key. A small tire makes for a small outside diameter. I know this is obvious to some of you, but I have heard of a few people making crazy compromises just to run a 650 rim...
Sharples"

No way to know for sure, but I can't imagine a scenario where SC isn't already goofing with and/or prototyping 650s. They weren't going to have a 29er until they had a 29er and it turned out to be bad ass out of the gate-- and then they took it to 11 with the LT.

If 650 has legs they'll make one and it'll be great. I'd buy a Nomad 650 instantly. INSTANTLY. Enough of my buddies are on 29ers that I know bigger wheels is the direction I'm going. I'm on my last 26er right now (even though I love it). The advantages outweigh the disadvantages to them and I witness that in practice twice a week. I've also witnessed how much faster they are on their 29ers.

If they don't make a 650 Nomad/Tallboy in the next year or two, a Tallboy LT will be the next bike in my garage. They've got me either way. They had me at "Nomad."

I am sure SC is saying this as a 650b would immediately castrate and delegitimize their 26's (along with all the R & D money). They'll probably resist a 650 wheeled bike until they feel they've recouped enough revenue, on the newer carbon 26's, to justify the expense.